Fixing the Cause of a Water Heater Leak

A leaking water heater might or may definitely not look like a significant concern. Nevertheless, regardless of whether it is a substantial leak or a minor leak, either one can result in plenty of damage to ones house in the form of water damage. Often homeowners fail to comprehend that a tiny leak is typically the warning of something much bigger that is beginning to take place, or may happen in the foreseeable future. In the worse situation, that little leak might grow to be a huge flood if the water heater is near totally giving out. At any rate, we are right here to assist with any kind of Mesa Hot Water Heater Repair that will be required.

Along with water damage to ones home via a leaking storage tank, there can be health associated issues with just about any water leak inside of a house. The wetness can result in mold or mildew development. People who experience allergies or asthma, it’s not a fantastic situation. The EPA says that a number of mold spores are toxic and can cause serious health problems.

Hoping that a present water leak will repair on its own and simply just disappear is something that just does not take place sad to say. Plumbing leaks merely worsen in time. We have put together a step-by-step list of actions to take in these predicaments.

Action Steps for Leaking Water Heaters

1. Initially be certain it is actually the water heater that the leaking water is coming from.

Should there be water near where the hot water heater is positioned, the leak may well not necessarily be originating from it. Examine all water pipes or various other things near where the heater is found. Are there any other appliances in close proximity which can create condensation? If ones heater is positioned in a basement, this may very well be the case. It could sometimes be a furnace drain line too, or coming from a water softener.

First, clean up the water and see if it comes back any time soon by observing the place periodically. Go over the water heater totally to see if any water is coming from one of the fittings, T&P valve, or drain valve. If it is completely dry, continue to look at different things and areas close by.

If nothing else is wet in the general location, set paper towels on the floor in the place that was already wet. Look at it every hour or so to make certain the paper towels remain dry. It’s going to be easier to notice the paper towels becoming wet then the ground. Following a day if absolutely nothing is wet once again, there should be nothing at all to worry about, however still keep a close look on it the next few days. If water is returning, and there is no other origin in close proximity that it could possibly be from, we will carry on to the step two at this point to establish the source of the leak.

2. Shut the water heater’s power off

Preferably, it is well known that water and electricity really do not go well together, therefore shut off the power for safety reasons.

For gas water heaters, there should be an on/off dial that should be set to the off position. Keep the gas line on at this point still.

For electric heaters, head to the house’s breaker box and turn off the breaker of the water heater.

3. Switch the water supply off

If one is confident that the leak is because of the hot water heater, and in the event that it is reasonably large, switching the water off will remove the opportunity of water continuing to fill up the storage tank and leak within ones household. Once more, with a big leak from the heater, and if the shut off valve is unable to be gotten to or if it is no longer working correctly, go find and turn off the main disconnect valve for the entire house. If one is still unclear the leak is coming from the water heater, one may leave the water supply on for now.

Please be careful that water coming from the storage tank will be hot and may burn ones skin. Most heaters will be established to a temperature of at the very least 120° F, that may cause first degree burns on contact.

4. Find the leak’s position

We do not call for our Mesa water heater potential customers to self diagnose their leaks ahead of getting in touch with us, especially when there is a critical water leak scenario taking place, but if one is able to the more rapidly we can help. Next is a summary of probable reasons why the leak is occurring.

Leaking Water Connections
Verify to make certain the cold water inlet along with the hot water outlet connections are tight. They are usually positioned towards the top of the storage tank. Make use of a pipe wrench to test they are tight. This is a quick fix when this is from where the leak is coming.

Leaking T&P Valve
Found on the side of the storage tank is the temperature and pressure relief valve. It will in addition have a drain pipe going down to the ground from it. The valve controls the volume of pressure which forms in the storage tank. It is going to let water out when it needs to control the pressure. This valve may perhaps be the source of the leak and may need replacing in the event it will not stay shut securely. Glance to see if any water is leaking via the valve. If water is coming from the valve while its in the sealed position, a new valve is going to be necessary. This is an essential valve of the water heater, and one that needs to function properly. However, updating it is simple enough and not costly.

Initially, examine to determine if there might be dirt in the valve. Put a pail below the discharge tube and open up the valve simply by pulling the tab on the valve. The water which is drained may flush the valve and clear away any kind of dirt that may perhaps be in the path.

Various other reasons of a T&P valve leak may just be high water pressure within the city water system, or via a backflow preventer positioned close to the water meter.

Leaking Drain Valve
Look at the drain valve in the bottom of the heater. They are usually manufactured from plastic, and for that reason, will be able to break with time. Ensure it is shut completely. If the drain valve requires being changed, it is an easy repair.

A drain valve leak might be a result of dirt within the valve. Attempt this first. Place a container under the valve and move the dial to open it. Draining some water may well remove the debris. If following flushing, it continues to leak, it’ll need to get replaced.

Whenever the leak is coming from here and the valve keeps leaking because it needs changed, try connecting a garden hose to it and run the hose outside the house. With some luck, that may get rid of the water leaking in the house.

Leak on the bottom of the tank
If the tank leaks from the bottom, it indicates a significant internal issue. On account of exactly how the water storage tank is designed, being covered in insulation and possessing an outer skin, if it is leaking, it is going to not be observable from the exterior. An internal water leak generally will likely be seen in the bottom of the tank. The older the storage tank is, the more probable its beginning to rust and degrade. A rusting tank will be required to be replaced.

5. Will I need a repair or replacement water heater?

Coming from our experience, we’re able to conduct a repair to take care of the leak, considerably more often then having to replace ones heater. The sooner we could examine the condition, the sooner we can perform a repair previous to the damage getting even worse. We do highly advocate that any kind of repairs or replacements be accomplished by a pro and not by yourself, to make certain they are performed accurately and up to code. Frequently, manufacturer warranties may be voided in the event a non-licensed individual works on it.